Let me preface this by saying I have been a huge fan from the day I got into music in high school. I probably fit the prototypical U2 fanactic category to a tee so it pains me to even bring up the topic. I am 37 years old so from an age perspective I also probably fit right into the sweet spot of a U2 fan having endured the highs and lows for 2 decades. Now if the answer is yes there is nothing wrong with that as there really are not any examples of bands at this age making the best music of their lives. If it is yes though I am bit depressed by it given how much the band has meant to me and how much they have been a part of my life.
Obviously music is very subjective but I think some U2 fanatics can't step back and evaluate things rationally so that is what I have done (I think). The final straw that brought me to this conclusion was opening night in Torino a few days ago and the quality of the 2 new songs debuted. Granted we have not heard studio versions of the songs so some context is missing but what I did hear really triggered what I have been thinking for the last year now. Its also just the first real performance of each but neither to me shows potential that I need for them to grown on me. I will say I commend and thank the band for taking a real risk to debut the songs which I think has been lacking in recent years.
The concerning part about the new songs is the fact that the band supposively has a ton of new material in the vault between the many projects that have started, stopped, retooled, and been revisited in just the last few years. So from a logical perspective I would think to debut songs live the band would have to feel the songs were very strong and would have to be at the top half of quality of what they have been working on. To add 2new songs to a set list in the low 20's is a decent part of the show so they need to work well. Personally I just don't feel that they are or did. So maybe the material they have been working on is not up to what I am expecting. Again given their age I would not be shocked and it would be understandable but as a fanatic I have to say I am disappointed.
So that is what triggered this for me but as I said its been brewing in my mind for a while. Here are the other factors that have led me to where I am at. Again i want to reiterate if the best is behind us I understand and hold no ill will towards the band. The ride has been tremendous and if its slowing down in terms of my enjoyment I am OK with that.
1. Too many projects- I don't think the band is as focused as in prior years. They seem to be very confused on what type of music to release and I am guessing they are not all in agreement on direction which is very important for them. I think the lack of focus may be a lack of confidence and possibly not feeling that their standards in material is being met. Understandable given their personal lives and what they have achieved. But I really think they need to lock themselves away together in a room and figure it out eliminating distractions as best as possible. Hopefully that will happen during the long break between the next leg.
2. The Edge- He is my favorite and to me is the most important ingredient. His creativity is the sole of the band. For the most part I love and dislike U2 songs based on the Edge's work. Looking at the last albums post POP I would say he is not as creative or is lacking in ideas. Again understandable given age, environment, and his guitar style. It could very well be he has run out of ways to skin the cat and needs to move in a different direction. However that is kind of a no win in that I love his trademark sounds so not sure a totally new direction would help me. I am not saying everything he produces lately is not creative or lacking but rather looking at the whole body of work. I hope the band is not holding him back in some way as I really think he creativity will always be the key.
3. Commercialism- I am not one of those fans that hates commercialism or trying to appeal to the masses. If the music is really good I could care less whether I am the only one that likes it or millions do. However I feel, particularly with the opening singles released on at least the last few albums the band is trying too hard to be relevant. I don't think it is natural for them and I think it holds them back from the creativity that truly inspires me and has made them so relevant for years. NLOTH for the most part was less about this however there were some glaring exceptions. It again points to lack of focus and direction for me. They need to be focused on totally cohesive records.
4. Live Shows- The spectacle is not an issue as I enjoy the creativity and trying to expand the visual aspect. The issue I see here is the song selection and execution. They have a huge catalogue yet continue to not stray too far from the classics. Sometimes that is OK but if you are going to do that you need to play those classics with the best presentation you can. WOWY and MW to me are shadows of their former performances and maybe this points to the Edge. I don't understand why he is leaving out the awesome solos that really make these songs what they are live. There is perhaps some passion or energy missing with these performances. I don't see how anyone can argue these songs are better w/out their solos so I am really confused by it. Again this is understandable with age but why keep playing them if you can't play them to the best of their standards. Part of this could be trying to fit everything neatly into a relatively scripted show. If that is the case they need to stop trying to fit everything so tightly into a neat package as it takes away from what they are capable of.
So that is where I stand on this. I am very thankful for the band and the fact they continue to produce quality music and performances for so long. They owe me nothing at this point and perhaps they truly have lost a little over the years which again is still better than most of what is out there today. It is their band and they can do whatever they want and I will continue to keep supporting them financially. I just think age may have gotten the best of them in different ways not just physically. I know they are capable of more and I hope I am wrong in my assessment.
Obviously music is very subjective but I think some U2 fanatics can't step back and evaluate things rationally so that is what I have done (I think). The final straw that brought me to this conclusion was opening night in Torino a few days ago and the quality of the 2 new songs debuted. Granted we have not heard studio versions of the songs so some context is missing but what I did hear really triggered what I have been thinking for the last year now. Its also just the first real performance of each but neither to me shows potential that I need for them to grown on me. I will say I commend and thank the band for taking a real risk to debut the songs which I think has been lacking in recent years.
The concerning part about the new songs is the fact that the band supposively has a ton of new material in the vault between the many projects that have started, stopped, retooled, and been revisited in just the last few years. So from a logical perspective I would think to debut songs live the band would have to feel the songs were very strong and would have to be at the top half of quality of what they have been working on. To add 2new songs to a set list in the low 20's is a decent part of the show so they need to work well. Personally I just don't feel that they are or did. So maybe the material they have been working on is not up to what I am expecting. Again given their age I would not be shocked and it would be understandable but as a fanatic I have to say I am disappointed.
So that is what triggered this for me but as I said its been brewing in my mind for a while. Here are the other factors that have led me to where I am at. Again i want to reiterate if the best is behind us I understand and hold no ill will towards the band. The ride has been tremendous and if its slowing down in terms of my enjoyment I am OK with that.
1. Too many projects- I don't think the band is as focused as in prior years. They seem to be very confused on what type of music to release and I am guessing they are not all in agreement on direction which is very important for them. I think the lack of focus may be a lack of confidence and possibly not feeling that their standards in material is being met. Understandable given their personal lives and what they have achieved. But I really think they need to lock themselves away together in a room and figure it out eliminating distractions as best as possible. Hopefully that will happen during the long break between the next leg.
2. The Edge- He is my favorite and to me is the most important ingredient. His creativity is the sole of the band. For the most part I love and dislike U2 songs based on the Edge's work. Looking at the last albums post POP I would say he is not as creative or is lacking in ideas. Again understandable given age, environment, and his guitar style. It could very well be he has run out of ways to skin the cat and needs to move in a different direction. However that is kind of a no win in that I love his trademark sounds so not sure a totally new direction would help me. I am not saying everything he produces lately is not creative or lacking but rather looking at the whole body of work. I hope the band is not holding him back in some way as I really think he creativity will always be the key.
3. Commercialism- I am not one of those fans that hates commercialism or trying to appeal to the masses. If the music is really good I could care less whether I am the only one that likes it or millions do. However I feel, particularly with the opening singles released on at least the last few albums the band is trying too hard to be relevant. I don't think it is natural for them and I think it holds them back from the creativity that truly inspires me and has made them so relevant for years. NLOTH for the most part was less about this however there were some glaring exceptions. It again points to lack of focus and direction for me. They need to be focused on totally cohesive records.
4. Live Shows- The spectacle is not an issue as I enjoy the creativity and trying to expand the visual aspect. The issue I see here is the song selection and execution. They have a huge catalogue yet continue to not stray too far from the classics. Sometimes that is OK but if you are going to do that you need to play those classics with the best presentation you can. WOWY and MW to me are shadows of their former performances and maybe this points to the Edge. I don't understand why he is leaving out the awesome solos that really make these songs what they are live. There is perhaps some passion or energy missing with these performances. I don't see how anyone can argue these songs are better w/out their solos so I am really confused by it. Again this is understandable with age but why keep playing them if you can't play them to the best of their standards. Part of this could be trying to fit everything neatly into a relatively scripted show. If that is the case they need to stop trying to fit everything so tightly into a neat package as it takes away from what they are capable of.
So that is where I stand on this. I am very thankful for the band and the fact they continue to produce quality music and performances for so long. They owe me nothing at this point and perhaps they truly have lost a little over the years which again is still better than most of what is out there today. It is their band and they can do whatever they want and I will continue to keep supporting them financially. I just think age may have gotten the best of them in different ways not just physically. I know they are capable of more and I hope I am wrong in my assessment.
) that they couldn't put together brand new material for Glasto, but instead opted to cobble some kind of "Frankensong" together from bits & pieces of other stuff they had laying around?
As for you being sad that "this may be as good as it gets" with regards to U2's current output - could that be just as much about how you're feeling as you approach 40yrs old as it is the quality of U2's music? (I ask as a 39yr old who's put the same question to myself in the last couple of years.)
This. 
